Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Has high-flying Jeremy Evans played his last game in Utah? (Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

For five seasons, the high-flying, beyond athletic Evans has called Utah his home. He has spent his entire NBA career in a Jazz uniform. Thanks to his acrobatic plays, astounding alley oops, constant all-out hustle and infectious smile, Evans has long been a fan favorite among the team’s faithful followers. His Slam Dunk Contest win added to that. Every summer, he is among the Jazz players who comprise the Junior Jazz tour and at this season’s locker room clean-out, Evans said he is ready for another tour of duty. A talented artist, he has even displayed his paintings in different venues throughout Salt Lake City. There is so much to like about Jeremy Evans.

As the 55th pick in 2010 Draft, Evans defied the odds. Despite his slender build, he not only made Utah’s regular season roster, but he was able to see some time as a rookie. Along with Gordon Hayward, Evans is one of the last remaining Jazzmen to have played for Jerry Sloan. With the Jazz’s cadre of talented big men in Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, Evans saw very limited playing time the following two seasons — a total of just 432 minutes. Even so, Evans kept his head up and kept working hard. Whenever he was called upon, he came in and did his best.

When Jefferson and Millsap went to Charlotte and Atlanta, respectively, Evans finally got his chance. He became a regular during the 2013-2014 and was consistently solid, averaging 6.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 0.7 BPG in 18.3 MPG, while showing a greatly improved mid-range game Evans had numbers that season that exceeded his first three season totals’ in almost every statistical category. With a 16.2 PER and 2.8 Win Shares, Evans was actually one of the most productive players on the roster. Things were looking bright for the affable Evans.

Things can change quickly.

First, the Jazz acquired two front court players in Trevor Booker and Steve Novak. Booker had more experience, toiling as a starter for a playoff team in the Washington Wizards. Novak was strictly situational, but with his shooting, was able to get some nods ahead of Evans. Second, and more influentially, Utah benefited from a great deal of internal improvement. Favors, Kanter and Rudy Gobert all became more capable players, with Gobert exceeding everyone’s expectations in a major, major way. Evans suddenly found himself in a familiar place, as the odd man out. With head coach Quin Snyder’s emphasis on having shooters — evidenced by Kanter and Booker’s increase in 3-point attempts — Evans, who has not developed that aspect of his game, spent most of his time on the pine.

After Kanter and Novak were sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Evans enjoyed an uptick in opportunity and playing time. He was quite good in April, bringing 6.0 PPG and 2.9 RPG to the table in 12 MPG. He shot the ball well and made the most of the offensive chances he was given. Evans maintained a positive attitude throughout the season, like he always has. The consummate professional, he responded whenever Snyder needed him.

Where do things stand going forward? Given the way they finished the campaign, Favors and Gobert look to build on the momentum they experienced individually and as a defensive duo. Both have the potential to challenge for All-Star roster spots, which is enormous for the franchise. Booker’s hustle, attitude and leadership are valued greatly by both the coaching staff and his teammates. The Jazz have a $4.75 million team option for him this upcoming year. Chances are, the Jazz will look to secure a stretch four this off-season, be it via the draft, trade or free agency. If Evans is retained, he most likely will be an end-of-the-bench player again.

As a result, most feel that Evans will be moving on. Given the tenor of some of his tweets as the season concluded, Evans seems to feel similarly. In some ways, it was as if he was bidding farewell to the Jazz community.

That’s RIGHT! No matter what happens, Once a jazzman always a jazzman. I believe it.

Evans will be in the NBA next season. He has shown enough to warrant attention, especially from an advanced stats perspective. In four of his seasons, Evans has sported an 18.8 or better PER, including this year’s 20.5 mark. He has shown a propensity to contribute on the boards. While his wiry frame can cause some unfair battles in the paint, Evans uses his agility and timing to compensate some. He is a good weak-side shot-blocker. Evans does have his deficiencies: consistent shooting and ball handling ability when playing small forward. The pluses, though, exceed his minuses, especially as a reserve. Evans could be a nice role player at a minimal cost. He would represent a very low risk, potential solid reward acquisition on the court, and off the court, he is a high character guy. It is apparent that Evans loves playing basketball, which is a refreshing thing to see.

The door may not be ajar much, but it has not completely closed on Evans’ time in Utah. The odds are certainly not high, but there is still a chance he could be brought back as insurance. With his constantly positive attitude and his ability to do some nice things on the floor, he may end up an appealing option as the Jazz fill out their roster. There is something to be said for longevity and familiarity, not to mention his friendship with his teammates, including Hayward. Like many of the players who finished the season with Utah, for Evans, a lot depends on what other moves Dennis Lindsey makes to bolster and improve the roster.

Whatever the case may be, it will be extremely easy to root for Jeremy Evans. Whether he remains a Jazzman or if he ends up on another team, Evans exudes class.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

There has naturally been a lot of excitement surrounding Rudy Gobert’s emergence, Derrick Favors’ stepping up and Gordon Hayward’s continued excellence. Something the Jazz fan base should also be elated about? Rodney Hood’s development. The talented swingman had a rough first-half of his rookie season, with repeated foot injuries hobbling his playing time and growth. In a wise move, however, Utah shut him down and it looks like it is paying off. He now is starting, which is something to watch. Hood is easily playing the best ball of his young career, looking extremely confident. With point tallies of 17, 20 and 24 recently, he recorded his career-high thrice in four outings. He has the green light to shoot from head coach Quin Snyder and he has not been shy. Hood has shown a shrewd offensive repertoire, mixing in a bevy of smooth interior moves along with his perimeter shooting. He has struck a nice balance, becoming slightly less reliant on 3-point attempts. He is also showing some potential as a willing defender. He does not back down, but gets beat on occasion, sometimes resorting to a foul to stop a score.

Hood boasts a 104.3 OffRtg and a 91.5 DefRtg–a 12.7 NetRtg, one of the highest marks on the team. His USG% has bumped up to 21.1, from 16.8, a nice stat especially when considering the huge jump in eFG%–going from 39.7 to 59.2 since the extended break. Hood’s rebounding has gone down quite a bit, but this could be attributed to his move to playing more shooting guard. Also, to his credit, when Hood’s shot was not falling in the first half of the season, he continued to contribute in other ways, rebounding among them. He is accounting for 24.7% of the Jazz’s points when he is on the court. That is exceptional.

Jazz fans should be very excited about Hood. He may prove to be one of the steals of the 2014 Draft.

First, my hat’s off to Burke for the way he has accepted his move to the bench. He has been professional about it, saying all the right things. There is a lot to be said about that, even if it may bristle him inside. Many of his stats have improved off the pine, but there are definitely still struggles.

Burke’s play since the break has been up and down. His shooting percentages, while up a tad, are still low. He is playing 5.3 MPG less, but is shooting just 0.7 less shots a game. Burke seems more motivated to be an offensive spark, most likely something Snyder is encouraging. His USG% is at 25.6 (from 22.3), but the 43.1 eFG% is rough. Burke is doing a lot more creating for himself, again probably by intention. Burke’s Assist Percentage is up (27.4, from 24.2), but the Assist Ratio is a bit down (19.8, from 23.1). He is showing more effort on defense and has a NetRtg of 3.7.

These remaining games are vitally important for the Jazz and Burke. They need to keep gauging how Burke continues to fare in this role. Is this something he can do long-term? With Exum assuming more playing time already, it is certainly something to watch closely.

When Enes Kanter was moved, it was assumed that Booker would see an uptick in playing time. Enter Rudy Gobert’s remarkably rapid growth. While Booker saw a big jump initially, that has leveled out a bit. Even so, Booker has continued to be a valuable energy player off the bench. His ability and desire to hustle and play with emotion simply injects the team–and the fans–with a contagious enthusiasm. He has been fighting on the boards, which has been a factor in their recent success. He has jumped to a 15.7 REB%, with a big spike on the offensive glass (13.7 OREB%, from 9.7). Booker is responsible for 29% of Utah’s caroms when he’s playing.

His shooting has taken quite a hit, even though he is shooting a lot less from 3-point range. Perhaps Hood’s return and Exum’s improved 3-point shooting, along with his more frequent pairing with Joe Ingles, lessens the coaching staff’s desire for him to stretch the floor more. Due to the stellar offensive rebounding, he may be forcing a few shots after nabbing the board.

These final weeks are also big for Booker, as the Jazz will have a decision to make regarding his contract next season. Only $250,000 of his $5 million is guaranteed.

Millsap, he of the recent concussion, has been consistent since the break. The raw numbers are almost even across the board, though he is playing 2.7 MPG less. Unfortunately, the shooting is also even. Millsap has the potential to fulfill a needed 3-and-D role for the Jazz, but he certainly needs to work on his jumper, as well as his shot selection. Millsap has slight increases in rebounding and assist numbers.

He too sports a sparking NetRtg–10.5, which includes an 89.9 DefRtg. Millsap is pesky on the perimeter defensively, though he sometimes gambles a bit much. His 3.1 STL% is great, though. The next steps would be for him to work on improving his positional defense. All the makings of a defensive specialist are there, though. The great thing is Utah has him locked up for a few more seasons on non-guaranteed minimum levels. They can work with him for the duration of this season and this summer to further develop him. Dennis Lindsey and company did well in finding him.

The rest of the bench– Jeremy Evans, Ian Clark, Bryce Cotton, Jack Cooley and Grant Jerrett–have seen just spotty minutes, with Clark and Jerrett spending the bulk of the time with the Idaho Stampede. Evans, who was a solid rotation player last season, played a bit the first few games. He is averaging just 7.0 MPG in 10 gms since the Kanter trade.

While much of the Jazz’s torrid play can be attributed to the starters, the bench play has its share of positives. The more experience the reserves receive these final games, the better Utah will stand going forward.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Each passing game gives Utah Jazz fans a little more of a sample size to gauge, assess, critique and react. Last week, we took a look at the Jazz starters; it is time to take a gander at Utah’s bench and look at how the reserves are performing thus far.

Trevor Booker: From his preseason fracas with Blake Griffin, to his tireless energy and effort, it is safe to say that Trevor Booker is already a fan favorite. He has injected a lot of life and is a much-needed enforcer that Utah has lacked in recent years. Booker started out of fire and has tapered off a bit the past few games, which can be expected with anyone. Through eight games, the 6’8″ power forward is contributing 9.4 PPG (on 56 percent shooting) and 4.4 RPG. The 6-14 3-point shooting (42.9 percent) has been a welcome addition, but beyond that, some of those treys have come at crucial junctures in games. Booker sports a 17.7 PER and .610 TS%, which are both quite a bit above his career norms. His .100 WS/48 min is fourth among the regulars. He’s struggled a touch the past few outings, but the early returns indicate that he is a tremendous addition to the roster–another solid Dennis Lindsey move.

Dante Exum: The prized rookie’s quick progress has been a fun story line. We knew the Jazz would be bringing the 19-year old Exum along at a cautious pace, but his play has been slowly, but surely demanding more and more on-court time. He numbers are solid – 6.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 1.8 RPG and his shooting quite a bit better than advertised (44.7 percent from the floor). It’s his poise that has been exciting. He plays with a maturity, makes smart basketball decisions (for the most part) and is constantly looking to involve his teammates. Evidence: a 3.5 assist/turnover ratio and just 11.9 TOV%. His 117 ORtg is second to only Gordon Hayward. He will need to do a lot work on the defensive end and will be put through a physical ringer. Over 60 percent of his shots have come beyond the arc, where he’s just 30.4 percent. So far, however, his flashes of brilliance and heady play for a rookie have got to have the Jazz coaching staff and front office quite excited.

Rudy Gobert: After a fantastic summer, Gobert had a nice start to his sophomore campaign. He is contributing (4.6 PPG, 4.5 RPGand 1.3 BPG in 16.0 MPG) and putting in good effort. It’s easy to see the progress. He is much more capable as a finisher (66.7 percent around the basket) and his teammates are setting him up to succeed (76.9 percent of his baskets are assisted). Exum and Gobert have already established a pretty fun chemistry. His improved touch at the free throw line (73.3 percent), coupled with his high .682 FTr, has been an added boon. Gobert is expectedly affecting the games defensively, as seen by his team-best DRtg. His obvious length is enhanced by his mobility, which enables him to cover a lot of ground quickly. He sometimes gets overpowered or misses assignments or has DeAndre Jordan dunk on him. But the 7’2″ big man is coming along well. He is a keeper.

Joe Ingles: Ingles’ stats appear quite pedestrian–2.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG and 1.1 APG. He has just a 7.1 PER and a ,504 TS%. But the Aussie forward has added a nice dynamic to the second unit. His passing, in particular, has been fun to watch. Ingles always has his head up and his eyes open for a teammate. The first few games, he made some dishes that were very good. As of late, his perimeter shooting has picked up (81.3 percent of all his shots have been from downtown). He definitely has his struggles on defense, but it’s clear that head coach Quin Snyder feels confident in him. He’s an intangibles guy. Not a bad pick up off the waiver wire.

Rodney Hood: Hood’s recent injury is a set-back, as his shooting was starting to come along. To say his shot was not falling is a major understatement. He is shooting a mere 25.8 percent from the field and is just 3-12 on 3-pointers. Hood sometimes has been tentative on offense– a few instances where he made a nice drive, but pauses just enough to allow defenses to gather, resulting in having to pass the ball out. The best part of his game thus far has been his rebounding. His 13.1 TRB% is strong for a rookie swingman. Hood really crashes the defensive boards–his 23.2 DRB% is tops on the Jazz. This bodes well if he is able to contribute in other ways when he is struggling with his shot. Several games, he was the first player off the bench for Snyder. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for the rookie.

The rest: The other reserves have seen minimal time. Steve Novak and Ian Clark have done well when called upon, a trait that undoubtedly is appreciated by Utah’s coaching staff. Guys who keep themselves ready tend to be favorites in the locker room. Jeremy Evans is clearly the forgotten man in the crowded Utah front court. He showed he can contribute, but may also have to bide his time. Toure’ Murry has not played yet–he’s only be on the active roster the past two games, thanks to Hood’s injury.

All in all, the bench is starting to gel. Snyder has established a ten-man rotation and there have been times where the reserves not only maintain momentum, but have added to it. It will be enjoyable to watch how these five play the next 10-15 games.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

]]>http://saltcityhoops.com/early-utah-jazz-impressions-the-bench/feed/1Breaking Down the End of the Utah Jazz Benchhttp://saltcityhoops.com/breaking-down-the-end-of-the-utah-jazz-bench/
http://saltcityhoops.com/breaking-down-the-end-of-the-utah-jazz-bench/#commentsWed, 22 Oct 2014 20:27:36 +0000http://saltcityhoops.com/?p=13344Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

With the Utah Jazz winding down the somewhat drawn out preseason shortly, things are starting to get settled. Jazz fans are getting familiar with head coach Quin Snyder’s style on both ends of the court. Likewise, as Tuesday’s bout with the Oklahoma City Thunder indicated, lineups and rotations are taking shape. The starters received the lion’s share of the playing time, with the reserves contributing in the time they were given.

So what is happening at the end of the bench? Who succeeds in making the opening night roster? Here’s a rundown of each of the deep reserves.

Ian Clark: Clark was a summer league revelation in 2013, impressing so much that several teams were clamoring for his services. Utah won the bid, but Clark received minimal playing time. After a summer league where his main skill–shooting–was only so-so. Even so, the Jazz picked up his 2o14-15 season at $816K and he has done well in the preseason. In fact, he’s been a pleasant surprise. The first few games were okay, but the last few have brought about a new and improved Ian Clark. He has played a lot, spending time at both back court positions. Against the Lakers, he ran the offense well behind Dante Exum. He struggled versus the Thunder, but overall has been able to help keep defenses en guard. Clark may carve out a more regular role this season.

Jeremy Evans: It would appear that Evans is the odd man out in the front court rotations. After earning his first consistent playing time in 2013-14, and chipping in 6.1 PPG (0n 52.7% shooting) and 4.7 RPG, Evans has been supplanted by newcomers Trevor Booker and Steve Novak. Booker was clearly brought on to be a major role player for the Jazz and he’s shown what he can do and bring . Novak will help bring a stretch four element off the pine, which seems crucial to a Snyder offense. With all that, Evans seemingly returns to a deep reserve role–one he will most likely play sparingly. He has only played 26 minutes in six outings. Longtime an advanced stats darling, Evans will still manage to do good things when given the chance. He’ll need to start ready, as he has done his entire NBA career.

Carrick Felix: He remains a mystery. Due to injuries and inexperience, Felix saw very little on-court action his rookie campaign. He did enough, though, to earn Utah’s attention. They would not have acquired him in the Cleveland trade had there not been some things it liked. An injury during the first practice of the year set him back. He worked hard to make it back earlier than forecasted, but he has done very little in the sparse playing time he’s seen (5.8 MPG in four games). He’s not yet scored. Felix has good size and is a willing defender. But even with a guaranteed contract, he might be on the bubble due to his inexpensive deal.

Dahntay Jones: As we’ve mentioned before, Jones was the early favorite to nab a final roster spot. He was receiving solid back-up time, but his minutes have decreased as the preseason has progressed. Jones had a very poor showing versus the Los Angeles Clippers and then did not play Tuesday. He has had his moments, particularly defensively and would be a veteran help. But can he still play, especially after sitting out last season?

Toure’ Murry: Murry had a nice game against the Portland Trailblazers, notching seven points in 11 minutes. He’s only played one more game and six minutes since then. He was brought to Utah’s camp as insurance, a combo guard with good size and defensive potential. It is mildly surprising that he has not gotten onto the court, as the Jazz seem high on him. He had a fair share of suitors, but chose to come play for Snyder. Again, he has a $250K guarantee–something to consider, but yet still a pittance on NBA standards.

It seems unlikely that more than two of this trio of Felix, Jones and Murry makes the regular season squad. While Jones is the vet, the other two have youth and upside and could hone their abilities with the Idaho Stampede. The latter duo also have more guaranteed money.

Brock Motum: After a really nice summer league effort and a nice performance for Australia’s national team, Motum was a no-brainer for Jazz camp. Yet he has only appeared in one game (scoring seven points in 10 minutes). Utah’s deep front court has been a big reason. Still, it was surprising that neither he nor Jack Cooley saw time against the Lakers in a game where Snyder was playing around with lineups and resting main core guys. Motum is a nice shooter–a stretch four prospect. He also can rebound and seemingly takes pride in doing the little things.

Jack Cooley: He too has been affected by Utah’s depth up front. Cooley has rebounded well–clearly his forte. He is a big body who enjoys physicality. The Jazz expressed interest in him last year as an undrafted rookie and liked him enough to give him a small guarantee. Like the recently waived Dee Bost and Kevin Murphy, he could have been brought to camp with the understanding that he’d spend time in Boise.

If Utah looks to have a full 15-man roster, it might be between these two bigs. If so, it might be based mostly on their showings in practice. Motum seems to have more upside and versatility. He also is more of a known commodity, given his summer league time.

While the final roster make-up is probably not keeping Utah Jazz fans awake at night, this will be something to watch over the next few days. One never knows when a 14th or 15th guy emerges to be a solid contributor, especially should injury or trades arise.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

It is accountability time. Back in August 2013, I laid out some predictions for the 2013-14 Utah Jazz season. Some were bold, while some were the exact opposite. With four games remaining in the waning season, it’s safe to take a look back and see how accurate or how off these prognostications were.

Gordon Hayward will lead the team in assists: This one was close. The honors go to Trey Burke, whose edged out his back court partner, 5.5 APG to 5.2 APG. If it helps any, Hayward currently has 379 dimes for the year, while Burke has 361.

Hayward will also lead the team in scoring: This fits into the less-than-bold category, but Hayward is indeed pacing the Jazz in scoring at a 16.0 PPG clip. That said, his efficiency is lacking, as the role of go-to scorer does not seem like an exact fit.

Alec Burks, whether he starts or comes off the bench, will finish second: The athletic combo guard is right behind Hayward with 14.0 PPG. Back in August, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors may be think hard about this one, but I felt Burks ability to slash and get to the line, coupled with a gradually improving jumper, would position him to be a solid scoring threat.

Utah will be represented well at All-Star Weekend: Another safe bet, as Burke represented the franchise in the Rising Stars game, while winning the skills challenge. Jeremy Evans was denied the opportunity to regain his slam dunk crown.

Trey Burke will be the second Jazz player to win the Rookie of the Year award (Darrell Griffith being the first): This will be known in a few weeks. It’s clearly a three-man race between Burke, Victor Oladipo and Michael Carter-Williams. Chances are it will go to MCW, but it will be close.

The Jazz will honor Jerry Sloan this year: Check. And the Jazz did an absolutely masterful job in honoring the one and only Coach Sloan. It was certainly a highlight of this season as it allowed the fans to look back to some glory days with fondness.

The Jazz will be a top three shot-blocking team: Way off. At a collective 4.4 BPG, Utah is just 2oth in the league. I was banking on Favors improving on his gaudy 1.7 BPG in 23.2 MPG mark the previous season. Despite increased playing time, he dipped to 1.5 BPG. This prediction was also based on some solid playing time for Brandon Rush (who was solid his last full season) and Rudy Gobert (0.9 in limited action).

Favors will earn some All-Defensive team mentions, but won’t make it this season: This one could be in jeopardy. While he has had strong individual efforts, being the anchor of one of the NBA’s worst defenses won’t garner many votes, if any.

A lot of teams will be beating themselves over not drafting or signing Ian Clark: Probably a negative at this point. Clark is starting to get a few minutes here and there, but it’s highly unlikely his performance is causing opposing GMs to lose sleep. That said, he could be a very solid find. Clark has a good stroke and gives a lot of effort when on the court.

Dennis Lindsey will orchestrate at least one notable mid-season trade: Sure there were rumors (Richard Jefferson for Andrew Bynum; Marvin Williams for a first-round pick and the implausible Gordon Hayward to Boston rumors), but it was a quiet deadline. This year was less disappointing than the previous one, as the bevy of expiring contracts figured to be potential trade bait.

Despite the growing pains, this will be an exciting team for Jazz fans to rally around: This is a purely subjective prediction. It has absolutely been a season of struggle, ups and downs, highlights and low-lights (great piece the other day by Clint Johnson about this sordid season). There have been some positives, such as Burke’s recent game-winning 3-pointer. For me, it has been exciting, as we caught glimpses of the future.

And lastly, here were my quick hits.

To help with the whole Burke and Burks thing, Craig Bolerjack and Matt Harpring will be electrically shocked every time they use the wrong name: Clearly did not happen. Imagine the fun if the Jazz draft Aaron Gordon and Tyler Ennis…Burke and Burks, Enes and Ennis, Gordon and Gordon.

Favors will average a double-double. Kanter will not. But watch out the following year, world: Favors leads the team with 8.7 RPG, but many were predicting a few more boards per outing. Kanter has turned it on of late and is averaging that double-double the past six weeks.

Gobert will win the rookie dance-off, performing the Snake. The video will go viral that night: Oh, Rudy…

Biedrins will show he can still be a serviceable back-up big man: I will now cower in the corner, full of shame and embarrassment. Biedrins did earn $3.0M per point scored, so there is that.

Hayward will enlighten us with another full slate of Fresh Market ads that will dazzle and entertain. There will be immense rejoicing in the land: Yes, indeed.

Jeremy Evans will prove to be more than a highlight dunker. With an improved jump shot, Evans will show he belongs in the league: This has been one of the key developments of the season. At 5.9 PPG and 4.6 RPG, Evans definitely showed that he is a very viable rotation player. He started the year on a torrid pace, tailed off in the middle, but is coming back around. Utah has him locked in for another season at a mere $1.7M–a pittance compared to his productivity and his electric dunks.

Tyrone Corbin will finish the season as the head coach: And he will. But we will know soon if he is the head coach moving forward, as Laura Thompson highlighted.

Gobert’s wingspan and/or standing reach will be mentioned 7,653 times, most of them by the Jazz broadcasters: We got one right!

For the third straight season, Utah fanatics will watch the Golden State situation with eagerness. An injury will curtail the Warriors’ season a bit, but not enough to bring the Jazz a second lottery pick. Late teens would be my guess: This is one that many wish was not accurate. While the Warriors flirted with that elusive ninth place spot in the Western Conference, they seem secure in their postseason positioning and the Jazz will mostly likely be left with the #23 pick. Sadness.

Hayward, Favors, Kanter, and Burks will all receive Most Improved Player votes, but none will win it: Burks will probably get the most attention out of this quartet.

Kevin O’Connor will sign an extension, but will continue to take a gradually smaller role: He still has an influence on the team, but that seems to be dissipating as Lindsey is clearly at the helm.

We will see a sharp increase in Jazz fan Twitter etiquette: Twitter definitely can enhance one’s fan experience and it has for me. That said, there is still a long ways to go here. One day, all of us should just Kumbaya-it out.

Not too great, but not too shabby. How did other Jazz fans fare with their personal crystal balling?Pretty soon it will be time to make some more predictions for what will inevitably be a very eventful offseason for the Utah Jazz.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Jeremy Evans’ dunk face is worthy of recognition. But is his game worthy of one of the Jazz’s first Trimester Awards? Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Image

Each season, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein comes out with his trimester awards–recognizing the NBA’s high achievers–always a fun read. Make sure to give it a perusal when it comes out. Because this is Salt City Hoops, why not have some trimester awards for the Utah Jazz? And like Stein, this is based on the thoughts and votes of this “committee of one.”

Most Improved Player: Given the fact that every player is filling a different role than they did last season, there were numerous candidates for this honor. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors are clearly the players head coach Tyrone Corbin is relying on the most and both have taken nice strides in their progression (with many more strides yet to come). Enes Kanter had a stellar start to the season before his injury curtailed things a bit. He’s now trying to regain that same confidence.

Jeremy Evans was considered here, but this award goes to Alec Burks. He simply has been tremendous (Laura Thompson reflected on his play recently). While he had a few weeks where he struggled, he has simply taken his game to an entirely new level. In December, the athletic guard is cutting and slashing his way to 16.8 PPG (50.4% FGs, 47.6% 3s, 79.4% FTs) along with 3.2 RPG and 2.9 APG. Take out his two subpar games last week versus San Antonio and Denver (cherrypicking stats is fun!), and Burks climbs to 19.3 PPG (56.8% FGs, 62.5% 3s), 3.4 APG and 3.4 RPG. Taking a closer look, he has increased his points/36 minutes from 14.3 last season to 17.1 this year. His AST% has improved from 13.0 to 17.0, while his TOV% has gone from 14.3 to 12.1. Corbin made a nice move playing him predominantly at the shooting guard position, which plays to his strengths as a scorer, while still enabling him ample opportunities to create for his teammate.

Most importantly, Burks is making the correct basketball play the majority of the time. He knows when he needs to facilitate and he knows when he needs to take things into his own hands. All in all, Burks has been one of the brightest aspects of Utah’s season thus far.

Sixth Man: While Burks could easily garner this honor, too, the nod goes to Jeremy Evans. He has more than answered my question last month about his becoming a rotational player. Evans is producing 7.8 PPG and 6.3 RPG off the pine, while playing his trademark active defense. He leads the team with an 18.8 PER mark. He’s never rebounded the ball better (16.9 TRB%), particularly on the defensive boards (20.7 DRB%), which has been a thorn in Utah’s side this year. His remarkable shooting upon returning to the line-up has dropped considerably, to a “paltry” 52.7%. Evans has shown a much improved mid-range jump shot, which opens up his game tremendously (3-point range is the next step). Like usual, he’s been injected energy and excitement in the game, but not just in short spurts. Evans is making an impact on the court.

Defensive Player: There’s no way to sugar coat things: the Jazz’s defense has been dismal. The team is 30th in DRTG (110.7) and are low in the Defense Four Factors: 3rd in TOV% (13.3), 26th in eFG% (.517), 29th in DRB% (72.1) and 28th in FT/FGA (.242). If you’re not into advanced statistics, simply put, Utah is having major struggles. As a result, this award may not as illustrious as it normally would be.

That said, Derrick Favors signed his extension in October with the hopes of his becoming the defensive anchor and he is starting to show that he can fulfill that role. Favors is too learning his new role as the main presence in the middle and is showing improvement as the weeks pass. His Basketball Reference DRTG is the best amongst regulars at 106, with a DWS of 0.7. While his blocked shots are down (1.4 BPG), he is on track toward registering 100 steals and 100 blocks this season.

Comeback Player: Ah, yes, one of the ambiguous awards of yesteryear. It often went to players maligned by injury or severe off-court issues. No one has earned this more than Marvin Williams, and not for either of those reasons. When Utah obtain Williams, hopes were high. He was coming off a nice season in Atlanta where his perimeter shooting was key to their success. While he may never live up to the lofty billing associated with being the #2 pick in a draft, he was shaping up to be a solid 30+ MPG contributor. Last season was a let-down for Williams, he had career-lows in points, minutes, field goal percentage and rebounds. He was relegated to being a jump shooter, while ignoring his abilities to slash or post-up.

Skip to this season. While it took him some time to work back into game shape, he has been perhaps the most consistent player for the Jazz this year. Placed in the stretch four role, he has helped improve things for the starting lineup. He is shooting 40.3% from long distance, which would be a career-high. But beyond that, he is using his underrated repertoire of moves to score inside the arc. Williams is having career years in 2P% (52.1%), TS% (57.1%) and eFG% (56.2%). He’s bumped up his usage rate, cut down his TOV% and is passing (9.5 AST%) and stealing (2.1 STL%) well. He has been the consummate veteran leader. In the Jazz wins, Williams has made some huge plays. It is wonderful to see him playing this well.

Rookie of the Trimester: None other than Trey Burke, who has come on the scene and demanded respect right away. The Jazz are just a different squad with him at the helm. His leadership on the floor is evident and his abilities to get the ball to his teammates where they want and need it is getting better each game. Like others, his shot selection needs some work, but he has no fear when it comes to crunch time. He is rebounding the ball extremely well from the point guard position, a big plus for a team that lacks on the boards. He can get overpowered at times by opposing guards, but he is improving in his positional defense. If he continues his recent play, he will be right there with Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo for the league’s Rookie of the Year award at season’s end.

Most Valuable Player: Much has been said for his shooting woes and his occasional lackluster game. That said, Gordon Hayward is my choice for the Jazz’s MVP of the first 27 games. Cases could honestly be made for Favors and Burks, but Hayward’s all-around game has blossomed: 16.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.6 APG and 1.3 SPG. He is passing at an elite level (22.0 AST%) and has stepped up in major ways on the boards (career-highs with 14.7 DRB% and 8.4 TRB%). Hayward’s USG% is 24.5 and he is having some growing pains being the focal point of the offense. Burke’s addition has alleviated some of the burden, but he is still adjusting. His errant shooting has to improve (a mere 40.5% from the field and 26.3% on treys), with better shot selection being a necessity. Moreover, his consistency needs to be…well, more consistent. All in all, though, Hayward has showed his abilities to be a leader for Utah, both for the now and the future.

Feel free to share your thoughts on who you think might be deserving of each of these trimester awards.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

For a team in need of some good news, the Utah Jazz received some yesterday: rookie point guard Trey Burke made his official NBA debut versus the New Orleans Pelicans. While the highly-anticipated return by Burke from his broken finger is understandably receiving the most attention and accompanying headlines, there was a second boost in morale in the form of Jeremy Evans also being deemed healthy.

All eyes are naturally be focused on Burke, but many ardent Jazz fans are eager to see how Evans performs this season. During the off-season, given the turnover on Utah’s roster (particularly in the front court), it was believed that the high-flying forward might finally have a spot in the regular line-up. Now will be the chance to see if that happens.

All this leads to some big questions. Is Jeremy Evans a bonafide rotational player in the NBA? Can he be more than a situational guy who has the knack for making highlight reel plays?

Evans is a tremendous joy to watch. He is always flashing a smile and it’s clear that he has a love for the game of basketball. He seems to be the consummate locker room presence, always encouraging his teammates and never causing a bit of discord. His sheer athleticism and out-of-this-world leaping ability quickly made him a fan favorite. Earl Watson’s alley was nothing without Jeremy Evans’ oop. While some pundits minimize his Slam Dunk championship due to a somewhat diluted field of competitors, he still won it, fair-and-square. He’s had his fair share of in-game highlights, too. Who can forget this one?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_CVAJBIwTA&autoplay=0]

And while it didn’t count, here’s this, as well.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HBfdbxmKrk&autoplay=0]

Through his first three seasons, Evans has seen minimal court time. In fact, his playing time has decreased each passing season. All in all, he has registered a mere 895 minutes in 115 games–7.8 MPG. While his playing time has been inconsistent, Evans has managed to produce when his name has been called. He boasts a career 64.7 percent shooting mark for his career, while putting up 2.7 PPG and 1.8 RPG in his stints. There have been games where foul trouble or injuries paved the way for some appearances and he simply injected energy into the game.

He is an advanced stats’ darling. Over his three campaigns, Evans has a True Shooting Percentage of .659 and an Effective Field Goal Percentage of .647. He earns trips to the free throw line, too, as evidenced by his .750 Free Throw Attempt Rate last year. A smart shot-blocker with fine defensive instincts, Evans has a 4.8 Block Percentage, including 8.8 his second season. While some reserves have some sparkling advanced stats, he has produced his consistently over three seasons, which shows his potential to do some good things.

Evans could possibly play both forward positions for spells. Power forward has been where he’s logged the most time thus far in his career. While his slight frame causes issues inside–he can get pushed around and sometimes accrues fouls as a result–his speed and agility partially compensate. For him to play the small forward spot, Evans will have to evolve a bit. In the summer league and preseason, Evans displayed a much-improved jump shot, though his handle is a bit spotty. He will need to show that he can keep defenses honest if he is to assume some time at the three.

The Jazz’s front court depth could lead to Evans seeing an increased role. As expected, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are getting the lion’s share of playing time. Richard Jefferson has had a mini rejuvenation, but has not been consistent. Marvin Williams’ return has helped and he’s seen time as a stretch four. Mike Harris has been a surprise, but is limited. Given this line-up, Evans could demand minutes once he gets more into game-shape and could quickly take the time that Harris has been given. It’ll then be up to him to demonstrate what he is capable of in a more expansive role.

This season has been branded by some as a season of discovery– a chance to see what each player on the roster can do. Every individual on the team has or will assume a new niche in the rotation, and Jeremy Evans is not an exception. Will he become a rotational player? We will find out over the coming months.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

]]>Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors may have shed some light on how the bench positional battles will unfold–at least to start the season. Then again, it was one game and a preseason one at that. Add to the equation two returning-from-injury guys in Marvin Williams and Brandon Rush and thing could get interesting really quickly. We covered the starters, so let’s turn our attention to the bench.

This spot has some intrigue to me. Lucas has said all the right things since signing on the dotted line, and it appears that he is eager to serve in the mentor role for Burke. He is not the purest of point guards, but has experience that should suit him fine in Utah. Against the Warriors, Lucas was often the best player on the court. His shot selection was excellent and his hustle and enthusiasm, contagious. It was telling that the Jazz brass sent Burks to Spokane to work with Stockton, as well. He played minutes as the back-up last season, and while he had his moments, his performance was largely unspectacular. That said, the talent is there to be another ball handler and facilitator and he could get some extra PT here. A tandem of Burks and Lucas could be exciting and disruptive on defense. An interesting guy to watch during pre-season will be Ian Clark and whether he can play spot point guard minutes as needed. Machado has a good chance of making the team, but if so, will most likely anchor the bench.

Prediction: John Lucas III

BACK-UP SHOOTING GUARD

Candidates: Alec Burks, Brandon Rush. Outside chance: Ian Clark

Tuesday evening, Burks came off the pine. That said, at least for now, I’ll stick with my prediction that he earns the starting nod. I could indeed see that possibly changing when Rush is fully healthy (in that scenario, I see Hayward starting at small forward and Richard Jefferson moving to a reserve role). Either way, Burks or Rush would be depended upon to provide leadership and scoring in the second unit.

Again, Jefferson got the opening night nod at the three. This is another situation in which I think health will factor heavily. It makes sense why Tyrone Corbin went this way last evening, especially seeing the results of Burks as the featured scorer off the bench. So, to remain consistent, my money is still on Hayward being the starter and then watching an interesting battle between Williams and Jefferson. Marvin has more to offer at this point in their careers. Jeremy Evans could get spot minutes at the small forward, especially if he continues to show a much-improved jump shot. Dominic McGuire not only has a great chance of making the final roster, but being called upon as a situational player. He does a lot of the small things that coaches love.

Prediction: Marvin Williams

BACK-UP POWER FORWARD

Candidates: Jeremy Evans, Marvin Williams.

Evans has always been wildly productive during the spot minutes he’s played his first three seasons. Against Golden State, he displayed the full repertoire of what he can potentially offer as a rotational player. He hustled, crashed the boards, played solid defense, and showed offensive abilities. While he may still struggle against bulkier opponents in the post, his length and ridiculous leaping ability might more than compensate. This role is his for the taking and Corbin sounds very happy with his progress. Williams could fill the need for a stretch four against teams that employ a big front court.

Prediction: Jeremy Evans

BACK-UP CENTER

Candidates: Andris Biedrins, Rudy Gobert

While Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter will man most of the big man minutes, this will be a battle to watch. Against the Warriors, the veteran Biedrins got the first opportunity, but the young rookie played more minutes. The reports have been positive on both, with Corbin expressing admiration for the growth Gobert has already shown. This one could initially be a toss-up, but I think the French center will earn some minutes in the pivot.

Prediction: Rudy Gobert

Lastly, with 13 players on the roster with contracts (including Clark’s partially guaranteed deal), there could be two more who start the season in a Jazz uniform. Local media has mentioned the possibility of carrying a maximum 15 players–especially with recovering injuries being a factor. Should that be the case, McGuire and Machado might have the edge right now, with swingman Justin Holiday also being in the mix.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

A voice of the everyday Jazz fan. Scott works as a creative writer at an advertising agency in Los Angeles. Sticking it to Laker fans every chance he gets. A former "Jazz Rowdy" and avid interneter with production and writing experience on global sports brands. He has lived everywhere from Texas to DC, and all the way to Thailand. He now happens to live on a boat.

]]>For the past several years, Jazz players have been spending weeks at a time during the summer training with the Peak Performance Project, or P3, in Santa Barbara. I sat down with several members of the P3 staff at their facility to find out what exactly they do with the Jazz and other NBA players. This is part two of a two-part series. You can read Part 1 here.

Over the summer, NBA teams are prohibited from holding “mandatory” workouts, at least as far as the organization is concerned. But that didn’t stop the Jazz from getting the majority of their team together for a stint in Santa Barbara this summer with P3.

The unique relationship that the Jazz organization has developed with P3 goes back to the original days with Paul Millsap and Ronnie Brewer. Ever since those two started the excursions down to sunny, southern California, more and more players have joined in each year. Not all of them were as open to the idea initially. When Deron Williams was still with the team, he was one of the players who needed to be “converted” to their style, as Dr. Marcus Elliott put it. Since workouts are not required, participation is purely based on the players themselves. After learning about P3’s methods, there’s a reason why more and more players are joining the party.

Williams became such a believer, that he has since introduced the Brooklyn organization to P3. In fact, as you look at the complete roster of P3 athletes, many of them have connections back to Utah.

The staff at P3 credited Jazz trainers Gary Briggs and Mark McKown especially for fostering such a fruitful partnership and had nothing but good things to say about the entire organization. This might be the off-season, but Dennis Lindsey, Ty Corbin and even Randy Rigby have all been down for visits.

In order to track the best results, P3 tries to get athletes to their facility first thing after each season, and then again before the start of the next season. That way, they can grade both off-season and in-season improvements.

The Jazz players to attend this summer were Alec Burks, Jeremy Evans, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Enes Kanter, John Lucas III, Brandon Rush, Ian Clark, and most recently Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert and Andres Biedrins. The latter three were in Santa Barbara as recently as last Thursday and Friday. The only members not to participate were Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson.

In talking with Dr. Elliott and staff, they were very cautious as to which information they shared with me. Because of relationships with different players and organizations, they stopped themselves several times before sharing confidential test results. Some information they gather could drastically affect contract negotiations for certain athletes. If, for example, they forecasted health issues with a certain player, that information could impact an organization’s desire to sign a particular player. They did have interesting insights about nearly every player though. But who has shown the most improvement?

“Alec [Burks] was the biggest winner,” said Elliott. The staff really admired him for his work over the past couple years. He has apparently improved in a number of areas from hip stability, knee position and trunk strength, all of which affect quickness. They recognize the unique opportunity Burks will have this season to finally get steady minutes, potentially even as a starter. He is considered one of their more “elastic” athletes. He reached a vertical height of 12′ 2.5″ during an approach this summer. When he first arrived in May 2012 he maxed out at 11′ 8.5″. That height is especially worth noting considering that he also weighs 11 more pounds than when he started.

The other player they talked most about was Jeremy Evans. Several coaches commented that this is the best he’s ever looked. He was noticeably thicker and displayed better overall strength. Evans is one of the few guys that has shown an increased vertical every year since entering the league. He’s one of the young guys on the team who has been with P3 since he was drafted. In his initial assessment his rookie year, he could touch 12′ 2.5″ on his vertical jump. This past off-season he reached 12’ 7.5”. That is the highest any athlete has ever touched with P3 and means he has increased his vertical five full inches since entering the NBA; he now boasts a 43.5 inch vertical. While Jeremy has always been exceptional with an approach, his ability to create force from a rested position or without the aid of the stretch shortening cycle has improved considerably. This has been their number one focus with him. He now has much greater jump diversity, as they call it. The fact that he hasn’t peaked and keeps adding inches to his vertical every year is very positive.

Next was Favors. On a few different occasions, the trainers referred to him as a “beast.” Everything about his performance has been improving by their standards. They were excited to see how it translated to the court this year with his added responsibility. I asked their opinion about his “raw” talent as it is often described. Dr. Elliott responded by saying, “Derrick is one of the hardest workers, strong, but it took him way too long to get off the ground.” So they started working on that specifically. His seated jump test was below average in the beginning, but is now number one (!) among NBA big men in terms of speed of jump. Since P3, he tests among the NBA’s best bigs in almost every category. Some trainers noted that he practically moves like a guard.

One of the most interesting stories was that of Ian Clark, as he started his relationship with P3 independent of the Jazz. He worked with them during his pre-draft workouts and went on to, as Dr. Elliott described it, “tear up the Summer League.” Elliott continued by saying, “I don’t think Dennis [Lindsey] will mind if I share this.” After some of his workouts in Santa Barbara, he called Lindsey to give him some of his numbers. He did not comment on the amount this phone call may have influenced the Jazz management to sign Clark, but the timing might suggest such.

Newly drafted Trey Burke didn’t have nearly as much data to pull from as other players. This was his first interaction with P3. They commented that he was “very hard working with solid character.” He hadn’t had significant professional training beforehand, so the staff was confident they would begin to see noticeable improvements. He showed good slide agility, and side to side quickness. The biggest thing they noted was that it was still difficult to see his ceiling as a player.

They were pleasantly surprised with Enes Kanter. His shoulder looks good, per their evaluations, and used the phrase “coming back online” to describe his rehab process. One of the main targets they worked with Kanter on was his force explosion, in essence, getting back up to the basket quicker. They use the force plates to determine these numbers as was described in part one of this series. Kanter is one of the highest force athletes they work with as well as one of the strongest of all the athletes they have tested in the NBA. He currently owns the second best mark, for an NBA player, in their rotational power test. But above all the physical numbers he registered, they were most impressed with his character and perseverance. They shared his story of training in Santa Barbara while simultaneously observing Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims will fast from food and liquid from dawn until sunset. To keep up with the demanding training, Kanter would set his alarm twice in the middle of the night to wake up and eat.

John Lucas III came with the rest of the team as a first-timer this summer. He was, according to trainers, “skeptical” of their approach. They noted his old school mentality towards the game, as one who grew up around the sport. By the end, Lucas was a solid convert. After observing the team’s behavior and chemistry together, Dr. Elliott added, “He’s going to be a great part of this team.”

Brandon Rush is another one to join the Jazz this off-season. He was reported to have a “ton of bounce in his body.” P3 didn’t have information on him before his injury, which made it tough to fully evaluate his progress with his injury. He hadn’t had much jump training before, but was still really quick off the ground. The best sign for his rehab was his balance and stability through all of the testing and workouts.

After last week’s workout, Gordon Hayward reportedly looked great. He has improved every off-season in terms of strength, power and agility. According to their roster, he is one of the best agility and lateral speed NBA wings and is also is an above average jumper both from a static position and an approach.

Rudy Gobert also looked good and did not have a number of movement pathologies that they often see in big men. His standing reach of 9′ 9″ is the highest they have recorded.

Overall, the Jazz showed great progress during their time in Santa Barbara. It will be an important growth year for the organization, and having this sort of relationship with one of the leading teams of experts, trainers and doctors on our side will definitely help player development. In my opinion, the Jazz are years ahead of other teams when it comes to off-season training and I was more than impressed with the entire P3 staff.

P3 collects hundreds of biomechanical data points with every test, and could have gone into much greater detail athlete but asked that I refrain from sharing specific details about specific players as to respect their contracts with certain players/organizations, especially the Jazz. I respectfully agreed.

Author information

Scott Stevens

A voice of the everyday Jazz fan. Scott works as a creative writer at an advertising agency in Los Angeles. Sticking it to Laker fans every chance he gets. A former "Jazz Rowdy" and avid interneter with production and writing experience on global sports brands. He has lived everywhere from Texas to DC, and all the way to Thailand. He now happens to live on a boat.

Denim Millward, before SCH, wrote for Bleacher Report about the Jazz and the NBA. Despite this, he is actually a good writer, and we promise we will eschew the slideshow format on this site. He also contributes to The Color Commentator Magazine, and strangely, likes wrestling.

]]>When I think of Jeremy Evans and his role on the Utah Jazz for the upcoming 2013-2014, I think of Stephen Root’s character Milton Waddams from the cult classic Office Space.

No, I don’t see the almost impossibly nice Evans as a softly-muttering sad sack who will eventually commit arson to avenge the wrongs done to him. However, one scene in particular sums up the analogy perfectly. In this scene, cake is being passed around to celebrate evil Initech boss Bill Lumberg’s birthday. Milton takes a piece and is about to dig in, when he is accosted by another co-worker to pass the cake around. Milton meekly protests that last time cake was served in the office he didn’t get a piece but passes the cake to the next employee. The pieces of cake are continued to be passed around until predictably, the cake runs out, everyone but Milton enjoying a piece.

Jeremy Evans is Milton Waddams, and cake is playing time for the 2013-14 season.

Prior to the upcoming season, Evans’ lack of minutes was understandable and easily explained. Evans was buried behind four extremely talented frontcourt players in Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, all of whom deserved playing time over Evans. With the departures of Millsap and Jefferson earlier this summer, it seemed the time had come for Evans to be thrust into a consistent role with significant floor time.

You don’t get to eat that cake just yet, Milton.

A few issues present themselves with giving Evans serious run. First, the starting frontcourt is locked up, with the dynamic duo of Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter filling the void left by Millsap and Jefferson. It seems simple to just promote Evans to third big and be done with it, but it doesn’t seem to be quite that simple. If Utah brings Evans off the bench as the third big, he’ll either always be playing alongside one of the starters or in tandem with another 2nd-tier big man. If Utah shortens it’s rotation in the frontcourt to three players, Favors and Kanter’s minutes would see a huge increase, likely a larger increase than the Jazz front office wants to see. Yes, we all want to see what Favors and Kanter can do this year with legitimate starter’s minutes, but we also don’t want them to wear down over the course of an already-lost season.

The other option that seems more likely is to play Evans with either Rudy Gobert or newly-acquired center Andris Biedrins. While aesthetically amusing to watch, Evans and Gobert together would have serious issues scoring the ball and could be pushed around by bigger and bulkier frontcourt foes. Logic also dictates the Jazz have much more interest in giving Gobert valuable NBA experience than giving it to Evans, considering the large chunk of change the Miller family plunked down to acquire Gobert on draft night.

Evans and Biedrins isn’t tremendously more appealing considering how one-dimensional the pairing would be. Yes, the defense would likely be very good to great, but the offense would range from anemic to completely nonexistent. Some may question giving Biedrins, whose game fell off a cliff last year, playing time in favor of Evans, but there are a few logical reasons this would be done. First, Biedrins has showed his ability to play at or near an All-Star level in the past. Yes, his dumpster fire of a season last year seems to indicate that his better days are a distant memory, but a mini-renaissance on a new team and with a new coaching staff that has every reason to right the Biedrins ship is not out of the question. Revitalizing the lanky Latvian could make him a valuable asset the Jazz could deal at the trade deadline, either as simply an expiring contract or as added frontcourt depth and defensive prowess to a contending team, for even more assets. Getting paid to take on Biedrins and getting paid to trade him away would make GM Dennis Lindsey a folk hero in the Beehive State.

Evans’ numbers per-36-minutes are unsurprisingly good (12.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks), as Evans has always been very productive in the small amount of run he’s gotten so far. There are arguments to be made on both sides whether or not those numbers would carry over to an increased workload against better NBA talent. Evans also has to be the undisputed king of NBA preseason highlights.

Remember this one?

How about this one?

It’s no wonder Evans’ supporters are clamoring for a prominent role after watching him demolish Ronny Turiaf and Gerald Wallace. Evans minutes should increase this year, but to what extent? Is it improbable that we could see a Rudy Gobert/Andris Biedrins 2nd-team frontcourt succeed? What if Utah splits the second-team post position minutes evenly between the Gobert, Biedrins and Evans? This is not even mentioning the postulating that Marvin Williams could be utilized as a stretch 4 off the bench, further adding to the logjam behind Favors and Kanter.

Sorry Milton. Not only did Lumbergh take your red stapler, but he could also be relocating your office to the basement.

Author information

Denim Millward

Denim Millward, before SCH, wrote for Bleacher Report about the Jazz and the NBA. Despite this, he is actually a good writer, and we promise we will eschew the slideshow format on this site. He also contributes to The Color Commentator Magazine, and strangely, likes wrestling.